Machine eoe



@en 2P. 9 3.92.

z sheets-sheet -1 H. w. coLBY MACHINE FOR APPLYING COVERINGS T0 MEATSFiled May 23A, 19.24

Dec. 21 1926 LBILZG H. W.`coLBY MACHINUFOR APPLYING COVRINGS TO MEATSFiled' May 25, 1924 As sheets-sheet' g @JDM/Mu di Patented Dec. 2l,i926.

an etarras.- rarest easier..

i ARRY W. C'LBY, CECAGO, ILLNOS, ASSG'NOR TG THMAS F. KEELEY, OF

CHICAGO,

immers.

MlAC-INE FOR PPLYIETG- CO'VERINGS T0 MEI-LTS.

Application led May 23, 1921i.

My invention is particularly adapted and intended for applying elasticjackets to joint meats, such as hams, shoulders and the like, andhereinafter is more particularly de- 5. scribed with reference thereto.However, it is also adapted withobvious modifications to apply flexiblecoverings to a great variety of Yother articles. lhen used for thepurpose of covering hams and similar joint meats',

the jackets may be applied either before or after the meats have beensmoked and the jackets may be of elastic material such as stockinette,or relativelyinelastic material such as muslin. rlhe machine isespecially "useful, however, in applying jackets of stockinette or thelike to the joints prior to smoking, in accordance with the patent toFitcgerald No. 1,122,715. According to the process ofthis said patent,the hams or other joints after-being pickled and before fur *hertreatment, are encased in close fitting bags made of elastic fabric,such as stockinette, and then smoked lin substantially the usual manner,after which they are ready for the market without further handling. Thejacket is preferably prepared as a bag or sleeve, having one end closedand the other open, and after the ham is inserted, the open end isclosed by sewing, knotting, or otherfor applying jackets of thischaracter. By the use of my machine a great saving is effected inthetime and labor required to encase the hams in their jackets, the latterai are evenly applied to the joints so that after the jacket is closedand in the smoking operation even pressure is brought to bear upon thesofter parts of the meat by reason of which the finished joint compactand U rounded and presents an attractive and merchantable appearance. YThe form of the invention hereinafter described comprises a pair ofguides for the joint 'over the ends of which the open jacket isstretched and power operated plunger' by which the joint is pushedbetween the guides and into the bag or jacket. The guides are pivoted attheir rear ends and converge or approach each other toward the bagholding 5* ends thereof. fis the joint driven forward the guides swingoutward away from 'each other under the pressure of the ham, distendingthe jacket so that the ham may readily enter the same, irrespective ofits size, and

wise. My machine is particularly designed Serial No. 715,336.

the movement of the guides actuates a counter or counters so that tallyis kept of the number of joints jacketed. @ther features and advantagesof the present invention will appear from the following cetaileddescription thereof. lt is to be understood, however, that the specificdisclosure is for the purpose of exempliiication only and that the scopeof .the invention is defined in the following claims in which l haveendeavored to cover it as broadly as possible in view of the prior artas known to me.

In the 'dran/*ings accompanying and forming a part of the specification,Fig. l is 4an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;Fig. 2, a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a plan partly in horizontalsection on the line 3 3 of Fig. Ll; Fig. li, vertical transverse sectionon the line /i of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a transverse vertical section on theplane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a horizontal plan partly insection on the line 6 6 of Fig. i; Fig. 7, a vertical longitudinalsection of a detail, partly broken away and partly in elevation; Fig. 8,a transverse vertical section of another det-ail; and Fig. 9 is across-section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3. A

Each part is identified by the same reference character wherever itoccurs in the several views.

The mechanism of my invention may be mounted in any suitable manner andl have shown it as supported upon a table or stand l1, the specificconstruction of which it is unnecessary to describe. Thev swingingguides for the meat to be packaged are shown at l2, 13, the plunger forforcing the joints forwardly between the guides at il, and the countersto which reference has been made, at i5, i6.

The swi-i'iging guides l2, 13, are of similar construction and shape,comprising each an elongated interiorly convex portion l?. which, at itsforward or free end, is formed with an upwardly extending wing 18, the

two wings on the respective guides sul` stantially coming together whenthe guides are in normal closed position, as best shown in 2. As shownin Figs. l and 3, the nozzle formed by the guides extends beyond thefront edge 19 of the table, so that. the wings 1S are clear thereof andthe table is provided with a bottom guide or exten rounded torni at itsend, as best shown in Fig. 3. The side edges of the bottom guide V2()are formed with downwardly projecting flanges or ribs 2l (see Fig. 9) tohold the lower edge ot a bag on the guides well away from the topsurface ol the lower guide. In using the machine, the-bag' or containeris slipped over the nozzle formed by guides l2. 13 and 2O preferablyuntil its forw. edge or mouth is at or beyond the rear edm Q2 of thewings 18, so that the operator may readily hold the bag,r in positionwhile the ham or other joint is being slipped into it. The rear ends ofthe respective swinging;- guides are formed or provided with sleeves 23,which receive the stationary pivot pine; Q4, thus providing for theswinging move-A ment of the said 0fuides. The sleeves 23 eff theswinging guides are 'formed or provided with rearwardly extending,r arms26, Q7 from which extend inwardly and into the path ot the plunger 14,arms 28, 29. As the plunger returns to normal position it engages saidinwardly extending arms, forcingr them rearwardly, and thus closes theswinging guides. The inner ends ot' arms 28, 2O are connected by links30, 81. to a central sliding guide 32. The latter slides in a sleeve 33oit a bracket 34 bolted to the table at the middle thereof. In thepreterred construction shown, the guide 32 is formed with a flattenedhead and the links 30, 3l, are pivoted on a pin 35 extendingr through saflattened head, the link 3l being above an the link 32 below the same.The inner ends ol" links 30, 3l, are faced ott at an acute angle to thelength thereof, which angle is similar in the two links so that when theswinging guides are in their closed or normal position, as shown in tulllines in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 6, and consequently the holt 32 is `n itsrearmost position, the ends ot the links rest against` the flat frontface 37 of the guide and therefore the guides l2, 13, are accru., elypositioned over the guide 2() in their closed position with theirmeeting` edfes directly over the center line of seid guide 20. By reasonof the constiet n just described, the swinging guides are always movedan equal distance trom the median line of the machine so that the aclcet on 'the nozzle termed by the swinging; guides and the stationaryguide beneath them and the joint as it inserted therein are always inproper position and symmetrically placed with reference to the machine.

.in the preferred form of the invention herein described, the plunger laby which the meat joints are pressed or moved through the noir/.letermed by the guides and into the jacket, is operated hy a pneumaticcylinder, though obviously oth r means might he employed for thepurpose. The cylinder 38 of the pneumatic motor is supported in abracket 39 on the top of the table or stand and it may he of anysuitable or usual construction. ln the forni shown it is provided withan air pipe --O leading to the rear end thereof, and an air pipe 4lcommunicating with the trent yend ot the cylinder throne-h a casting;-lf2 which closes the front end oit the cylinder. shown at and the rodthereof extends 'hrough the packing hoK 45 at the front il of 'thecylinder and carries the plunger ris heretofore stated, the piston rodelle Ride-il in die las. f' which is 'ern'icd he controlled by any usualor al'iproi'ed fc systen'i, and l have shown the supply a a0, `ilconnected to a rotary valve 4T Lamine for this purpose. Valve 47 is provided with an inlet port 48 connected-hy pipe l Jl-9, 50, with asuitable source of co1- pressed air and an exhaust port 5l. By

rotating the valve plug the supply of air and exhaustcan be alternatelyconnected to the respective ends of the motor cylinder. lt is convenientto operate the valve plug' by means oi' a pedal or pedals, leaving thehands of the operator or operators free to handle the jackets andjoints. For this rpc-se l have provided the valve plug' 'h an operatingarm 523 and a pair ot pedals 5a, 55, arranged on opposite sides et thefront of the machine and connectefil to the arm 53 so that the machinemay be operated from either side, and it desired, by." a pair otoperatives working it alternately. The pedals 54, 55, are pivoted inbrackets 5G, 5'?, and the inner arms 5S, 59 ci? tee pedals, which aresli;V aj ott-set with re spect to each other, are pivoted to therespective links GO, Gl, the upper ends ot which are pivoted to arni 5P)at G2.

'l sprint; G3 serves to return the valve plint; pedas to normal, poitionalter cae" operation. Normally, tl. ton and plui er are .in the rearposition s and t`= .flown in Figs. i air supply being; in comin thefront end ot the cylini'lei.

either et the edals il, 55 is loweredL 'e turned to open the :liont endo nder to exhaust and connect the rear u.. f.. Litt, i.

end thereof to the supply et compressed airt whWehv the piston andplunger are driven On its return ,trolre the plunger rms 2S, 29, con--neeted to the swinging; Les, thereby closinav guides l2.. lrl, and1ttorwerd.

` wer engages the The piston ot the motor ite-l conveniently at thefront end of the accidental registration upon the counters, to whichreference has been inode, by nievenent of the swinging guides, isprevented. The counters l5, i6, the rear of t machine, ere operated fromthe erin attached to swinging guide 20. To the r Yid of seid srni isbolted en inwardly eginoing bracket 64, the tree end oit which isertore'ted tor the reception of u pivot pin pin entends through theinner' end of a link 66, the outer end or" which is pirto e lever 67,the lower end of the pivot G7 resting` and sliding upon the tuble. Theforward end of lever 67 is eivoted to the table st 68 und the rear enddrives the bur, to be presently described, by which the counters l5, i6,ere actuated. lt vill be observeeL that cruin (58 ot lever G7 and thepoint oit uttecnnient oi linl; 66 is very rneaeriv `l point ot theletter and the point ot attachinent thereto ot link 66. fis e consequeice7 the lerer 67 nietes through e l greuter than QG, vvhicn is sary oruseful to secure the proper extenJ ot the inoveinent the slide whichoperates counting mechanism.

frii 1 L mm 1:1 ine countsJA operating, snc transversely ol: the machineun in ruines Guide i with un enst which the tu me eers et one end (see`l; t 7l which supports r enl is `itc-med with en be r- 1 ("l 7l I l tl'mrllf fx bmw u?, 7* l Gull Allcrl rig 2.11MB L 'v @Linie ide bar 'ZO isconnected to the lever (37 -)revimisly described by a link 5. lThe eyeor perforated boss 76 et tl e linlr slips over the pivot pin 77 on theslide, and the inner of the link is forined with e socket which ceivesthe pin 7S projecting` Ytroni the lower c out trie lever 67. By reasonet this coi cion, the slide bar cannot be disconl :troni the leverWithout raising the Y The lever o7 is held down upon the @ble top et itsrear end by u mnsuerse ,g e 79, which extends over said lever andpartially across the top ot' the table..

is the construction conne/ting` the rrr-.ringing` ends o1"- the 28, 29extends beneath tie rod conneeting; the piston and plunger or 'followerund because of the construction just described. the machine cannot bedisassocisted or disassembled Without removing?r the pivot Vpins 24.rlhe latter nre locked in place by u transverse rod 80 extending throughthe seine und beneath the teble top. As a consequence of the foregoing',the ineens for actuating the counters cannotbe readily so disconnectedfrom the mein operatingr eleinents ot the machine that the letter canbe'used for jaeleting joints Without gisten on Jhe counters.

the distance between the tulif .it is desired only to count ell ot thepieces ot nient iuclreted in the niuchine, :1

e cornter l5 fnuy be employ-ed. l however, it is desired to lie-en countseparately ot the large pieces, such henis,

the smaller pieces, such shoulde or picnic bains, the tiro counte sshown muy be employed. rlie counters ure or may be of e kind connnonlyfound on the inarlret for registering the revolution.s` ot rotatingmachinery. Such counters are ordinarily forined with :i K; 1 whichprojects into the path oi", eatin surfece on e.. rotating port. For thepresent purpose l here somewhatinoditied the torih ot the urnis ol"counters to better adept thein tor cooperation i. 'ih the uctuetin slide70, so that s 't shoi Uer niovernent ot' ser slide will serve to uctuetethe counters. srins 8l, 82, or" the counters are bent e:

le es at 83, 84, and the counters secured to the table in such positionthat the innerinost portions the bent erins are sppr Xiinetelyperpendicular to the puth of nieve'- nient ot the slide. rllhe slide ispreternblj.v `"ornfied v-.vith a l' of openings 85, t. through which theurine 83, Set respectively, entend, the edges of the espectire slots oropenings being` rounded ut 87, 8S, vhere they ngege the respective ernisoit the count Ilfhe reeiprocetion ot the slide troni the leit to theright, es shown iu ig. 5, when sutiicient extent, operates the counters.t to be observed, however, that the slot enrough which the erin ofcounter l@ e.\;- tends is ot grerter length than the through which theerin ot counter l tends and that in the normal position of t c portsshow the operating ed in .l i 8T oi slot 85 is close to erin ot coul l5,Whereas the operating edge St? of 86 is spsced e considerable distancetrorA erin 82. il. relatively short ineffeinen the slide therefore issuliicient to open' counter l5, but niucn is essentiel tooperate counter16. tent ot nioven'ient ot the slide, which is, above pointed out,opinsted by 'the s 'i guides depends on the size ot the join ingjeclreted, und actuating ber und the coopparts so designed that bothcounters :ire operated by hsnis ot' ordinary size and only counter 15 bypicnic horns or shoulders. lt is theretore possible to keep telly otboth the f nuinber or" horns end oit the respective l; or" joints.Preferably atv housing' 90 teched to the counter actus-ting srnis 8l, topre"ent tuinierwith.

its previously described accidental notre tion otu the counters isprscticelly nnpossi le end the use oit the inachine tor jeclzetin hsnisWithout revistration on the couuten ean only be accomplished by a ratherditil' the slots in the counter cult mechanical operation which would ompose anyone attemptingl it to detection. llhus the machine provides areasonabrv e 'tain means of 1Keeping count olf the nu t jarleted as wellas a labor and time Savini-giueans 'to' alpiplying the jackets.

l claim:

l. ln a i'nachine of the cl-ss descrilied, a pair olf pivoted guidesmounted to s ng in a horizontal plane, a stationary guide beneath s;swinl'ing guides, said stationaryr guide be 'j' "formed withlongitudinal ribs on its une.` infiziert, and a plunger movable betweenthe swinging guides.

In a machine of the class described, a support, a pair oit swingingguides pivoter to said support at their rear ends, a station aryhorizontal guide extending beyond supliiort and adapted to receive theno ot a bag' thereover beneath said s guides and substantially on alevel with support and a plunger movable over the port between theswinging guides.

3. ln a machine of the class described, a poort, a pair o'l horizontalguides pivoted 'on sai d support, a plunger movable between saidringing` guides and inwardly exten linfr arme on said guides adapted tobe enH ed by the plunger to swing said guides to ether.

Ll. ln a machine ot the class described a support, a pair oli"horizontally sw'` guides mounted on said support, a i'nm'able betr-:eensaid guides, inwar protive swinging guides and means so corna ing theaims that the latter more distances from a central line.

5. In a machine of the class descril l support, a pair of swinging,rguides moua-c' u thereon and movable in opp site direc thereover, armsrigidly connect d 'l respective guides and extending towarr 1 other, asliding member movable in iintormediate said guides links il), Y l theslide and said arms and a pun inn; longitudine ly between said gua e'if, adapted to engage said arL to return l ie guides to closed position.

(l. ln a machine ot the class desc 'ibcrh a eupport, a paill ot normallyconi-eroine' oppositely i'novable ruit s pn ted l 'trono ends on the l:3151i apart, a plunger 'ral line ir. erinetiate sa'VV operated i'neans'tor if, 7'.

s and extendin slide movable lon guides, llnas connect- 1 j said F' eand arms, a plunger movable lo igitudinally between said guides and dinally between said adapted to engage said arms to close said guides 1d apower operated means for mov inn' sainL plunger. l

t3. ln a machine ol the class described, a support, a pair or convergingguides mounted on the support, one ot said guides being pivoted to thesupport for lateral movement thereover, a bottom guide extending beyondsaid .support and adapted to receive the mouth ot a bag thereover and aplunger' in ,vaille longfjitmlinally between safl "aides, 9. In amachineoll the class described, a support, a pair ot convergine' guides mountedthereon. one of said Quid bein votre thereto i'or lateal movement .c I zplunger longitudinally movable between said 1 l A inea is L termediatethe and sind counter 'for oper; t-

a machine of: the class described, a a pair ot converging guides mounti, one of said guides being pivoted lateral movement there-over, a

thereto i counter, a bar movable transversely ot the n1 clinic ioropera't" the counter, a lever roiniected to the )ar and movable gui defor said b: r, and a plunger movable M u( inally intermediate saidguides,

ll. ln a machine oli the class described, a

support, a pair olf converging `guides mounted on the support, one ofsaid( guides heng pivoted for lateral movement over the support, aplunger movable longitudinally between said guides, a lever operated bythe movable guide, a transversely sliding liar operated by said leverand a c unter, the operu ng," en t et which ,s ai'ran;,e: l to be movedby said bar.

l2. In a machine ot' the class described, a support, a pair otconvenging,y guides mounted on the support, one ot the same beinepivoted thereto 'for movement laterally thereover, a lever connected tothe nlovable guide to be swung thereby, a pair ot counte s andconnections internualiate said counters and said lever whereby one oitsaid countersy moved by a relatively ,mall movement olf said lever andthe other et said Counters if; moved only by a. substantially greatermovement of said lever.

ln a machine ot' the class described, a support, a pair ol comf'erging,rguides mounted thereon, a plunger movable longitudinally intermediate otsaid guides, a pz ir et countA` ers having; operatirug arms projectingthere- 'lro1n, a sliding;r bar having abutments thereon Yfor engagingthe arms oi the counters, said abutrneiits beingl so spaced relative tothe arms of the counters thatone of said arms is engager and operated bythe bar substantially betere the other, and connections intermediate thebar and the movable guide whereby the movement of the guideref'iprocates said bar.

le. In a machine of the class described, a

lao

support, a pair of converging guides on said support, one of said guidesbeing piveefl thereto for lateral movement there-ever, a plungerlongitudinally movable intermediate said guides, zzn erin on the movableguide projecting rearwarflly therefrom, a lever pivoted to said Support,a linl; connecting said arm and lever for operating Jshe laitier7 atransversely moving; slide, n, link connecting said slide and leverv anda Counter having an arm projecting into the path or". @aid bar andadapted to be operated thereby.

HARRY W. COLBY.

